Hemp gather binder



Y. May s, 1924.

1,493,343 HQLLAND-LETZ HEMP GATHER .-BINDER Fiied July 1918 7sheets-sheet 1 May 6, 1924.-

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17112671257 i ZwcZHoZand-Ze/ by a@ Inv/o-r.' Ho/ZZancZ-Zg 5 SM 7sheets-sheet s HEMP GATHER BINDER L.. HCJLLAND-LETZ Filed July e,

May G, 1924.

| HOLLANDLLETZ May 6 1924.

HEMP GATHER lBINDER Filed July 8, 1918 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 InUe/LZT. luci'OMLE, 'by f a,

Patented May 6, 1924.

UNiTEn STATES` insana sereni asics.

LUI). HOLLAND-LETZ, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEWJERSEY.

HEIMIPv GATHER BINDER.

Application filed. July` 8, 1918.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Lun. HOLLAND-Lucca, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hemp Gather Binders, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to machines for handling hemp, and moreparticularly to machines for gathering the hemp stalks after they havebeen cut and are prostrate on the lfield, and vfor binding the stalks.

It is well known that after'the hemp has been cut it must be spread onthe field in a uniform layer and be allowed to remain for several weeks'exposed to the weather in order that it may be properly retted.

After the stalks have become retted it is then necessary to gather themand convey them to a central location where they can be passed throughthe hemp brakes and scutches in order that the fiber may be separatedfrom the hurds.`

The hemp harvesting and spreading machines now in use cut the hemp anddrop the stalks on the field, disposing themV in parallel relationv withrespect to each other, in order that they may be uniformly distributedover the surface of the field and may be most easily gathered.

The object of the present invention is to gather and bind the hemp intosheaves whereby it may be easily handled and conveyed to the brakes andfiber treating apparatus.

IVith this object in view the invention consists in a machine having aseries of continuously operating elements for successively engaging thehemp stalks and elevating the same. The elevating devices may convey thestalks to a binder deck where they ma7 be bound into sheaves and, ifdesired,means may be provided for discharging the sheaves from themachine.

I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention` in the accompanyingdrawings, and in these dra,wings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of thema chine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine frame;

Serial No. 243,922.

Figp is a side elevation o f an enlarged scale showing the elements forgathering and elevating the stalks and the driving connections therefor;l

Figs. 4, 5,6 and 7 are enlarged detail views showing the two forms ofeccentric used in connection with the picking and elevating elements,Figs. 4 and 5 showing the eccentrics in elevation, and' Figs. 6 andf'Tshowing them in section;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view showing the driving connections for thevarious parts of the mechanism;

v Fig. 9 is a rear view showing in perspective the adjusting means forthe outer end of the machine frame;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view showing a side elevation of the mechanismshown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 1l is a top plan view with certain parts eliminated showing themechanism for actuating the' three sets of disks.

The framey of the machine is substantially rectangular in shapeandcom'prises longitudinally extending frame members or bars 20, 21, 22,'23,v 24 and 25. The members 20, 2l and 22 are connected at' theirfront` and rear ends byY transverse frame' members 26 and 27, and the'Vmembers-22 to 25 vinclusive are connected intermediate their ends to atransverse frame member 28, the member v28 also extending beyond' thelongitudinal member 22 and being secured at one end to the member 2lintermediate its front and rear ends. v'Ihefront end oi member 25islaterally offset as shown at 25.

A transverse frame member 29 is secured to one end of the frame member21 intermediate themember28` and the member 26, and extends across theframe and is'secured to the frame member 22 intermediate the-'front andrear end ofthe same and is also secured to the lrear ends of the members23, 24 and 25. The transverse frame member 26 in addition to beingsecured to members 2O and v21,is also secured-to the longitudinal framemember 22. f y v In order to securely brace the frame diagonally andtortionally, an additional diagonally disposed frame member 30 isprovided, and this'member issecured to the transverse loo frame member26 atv its-junction with the f frame member 21, and at its opposite endis secured to the outer longitudinally extending frame member' 25. A.tongue 31 is secured to draft members 32 and 33 which are pivotallyconnected at 34 and 35 to the frame members and 21.

The main driving wheel and supporting wheel 34 is carried at its outerend by a journal 35 secured to the frame .member 20, and at its .innerend is supported by ournal bracket 36 secured to the frame member Abracket 20 is secured to frame member 2O and supports a seat (not shown)for the driver. The outer end of the machine frame is supported by wheel37 which is adjustwheels 34 and 37 and this adjustmentis secured in thefollowing manner: A short crank shaft 38 is pivotally mounted at thefront ends of the upwardly extending front portions 39 and 40 of theframe members 20 and 21, and this crank shaft carries on its outer end alever 41 provided with the usual pawl locking means 42 which engageswith a notched sector 43 fixedly secured to the portion 39 of framemember 20. Near its opposite end the crank shaft has secured thereto arigid arm 44 which is connected by means of a link 45 to the front endportion of the draft member 33. The lever 41 is provided with adownwardly extending arm which is adjustably connected by means of links47 and a counterbalancing spring 48 to a bracket 21 secured to the framemeniber 20. The bracket 21 is extended laterally and forms a foot rest..Vhen it is desired to tilt the frame on its transverse axis, theoperator swings the lever 41 about its pivot, that is the crank shaft38, and the frame will be tilted relative to the draft members 32 andand tongue 31, the counterbalancing spring 48 assisting in this tiltingmovement.

The adjusting mechanism for the outer end of the frame will now bedescribed, and attention is directed to Figs. 9 and 10.

The wheel 37 is pivotally mounted on a stub axle 49 supported by ajournal 5() carried by a bracket 51 which is formed integral with atoothed quadrant 52. which in turn is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin53 carried by a depending bracket secured to the frame of the machine.The toothed quadrant 52 is actuated by means of worm 54 carried by wormshaft 55 which is turned by means of a crank. (Not shown.) This crank isof any convenient form and is adapted to fit in the eye formed on oneend of the shaft 55. This worm shaft 55 is journaled in outwardlyprojecting portions 56 secured to the outer end of the transverse framemember 29. A bifurcated locking member 57 is pivoted at 57 to one of thelugs 56 and normally engages an eye formed on the worm .shaft to preventaccidental rotation thereof.

In Fig. 10 I have shown two positions of the frame, one position beingshown in full lines and the other position in dotted lines. From thisshowing itl will be seen that as the worm shaft 55 and worm 54 arerotated, the toothed quadrant 52 will be rotated on its pivot 53 and thepivot 53 and the frame of the machine will be rotatedabout the axle 49of the supporting wheel, the frame being left at the dotted lineposition.

Having described the means for tilt-ing the frame and for verticallyadjusting the outer end of the frame, I will now proceed to describe themechanism for lifting the hemp stalks from the ground and for elevatingthem to the binder deck.

Near the front ends of the transversely eX- tending frame members 21 and22 there is journaled a short jack shaft 58 to which is secured nearone. end a sprocket 59. This sprocket is connected by means of a chain60 to a sprocket 61 rigidly secured to the main drive wheel 34. Thesprocket 59 is loosely mounted on the shaft 58 and is operativelyconnected to the shaft by means of a clutch 62, one portion of theclutch being secured to the sprocket and the other portion being securedto the shaft. This clutch is operated by any suitable mechanism. and inthe drawings I have illustrated a clutch shipping fork 63 which iscontrolled by means of a rod 64 which in turn is operated by means of acranked actuating rod 65. The rod 65 is provided at its'rear end with anangular-ly disposed portion 66 and is rotatably mounted in a bracket 67disposed in such a position that the operator may reach the portion y66with his hand and throw the clutch 62 into and out of operativeposition. The shaft 58 is provided at the end which is disposed adjacentthe frame member 22 with a spur gear 68 which meshes with a gear 69carried at one end of a shaft 70. The shaft y70 forms the main drivingshaft for the gathering and elevating members which are operated in amanner to be hereinafter described.

The hemp stalks which are prostrate on the field are elevated by meansof a series of continuously operating lifting members which are providedwith outwardly projecting teeth, the teeth of the various memberssuccessively engaging the stalks and elevating them from the ground tothe binder deck. These members are shown more particularly in Figs. 1and 3 and attention is now directed te these figures5 'Maisie The stalkengaging elevating ,meme bers 71 are provided with a'se'ries of rigidteeth 72 disposed at different levels and adapted to successively engagethe stalks. At the lower ends of these elevating members 71 I haveprovided resilient teeth 73 which engage the stalks as they areprostrate on the ground, and perform the initial lifting operation. Theteeth73 are made 1'e`- silient in order'. thatthey may notb'efbroken bycontact with the ground ory with the stones or other objects with whichthey may come in contact. It is very important that these members shouldin their operation come very close to the surface of the ground" inorder that none of the stalks lmay be left-upon the field.

The resilient members 7 3 in the form illustrated are formed at. theirupper endswith spiral coils 74 secured by means ox-f strapsr 75 to thelower end portions-,76 of theflifting members 71. The llower kendportions 76 are suitably recessed .to receive the straps which arebolted thereto asshown at 7 8y and v 79. The teeth 7 3 may also beprovided vwith additional spirals 80 intermediate theirupper and lowerends in order toy increase the resiliency of these members. y

In'theembodiment illustrated I have also shown a. supplemental series ofresilient teeth 81 secured to the lower end portions`76 by theretainingbolts 79 which also secure the upper portions of the straps 75to the ,lifting members. l

The members71 are pivotally connected to the frame of thermachine at'theirrear ends by means of a series offlinks82secjured at their upperends to the member 71,7and at their lower ends to a seriesofI brackets83 mounted on a transverse Aframe ,memberl 84 which is secured to framemembers 22 and 25 and extends across the members 23 and The actuatingmeans for. the lifting mem-- bers will now bel described.

As above stated the shaft 70 Y is the main driving shaft for the liftingmembers and in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in thedrawings I have shown three setsof lifting members,each made up of threelifting members. Each of the sets is actuated by means of threeeccentricdisks', the central disk being secured tothe shaft70 and thedisks at the opposite sides of this central disk also being secured'tothe shaft7() by being'provided vwith means engaging; the central diskwhereby the three disks may be rotated simultaneously; Where threee'ccentrics and three liftinggmembers "are: employed in each set, theaxesV ofeccentricityl of the three eccentrics are disposed 'equallyabout the longitudinal airis o`f"tle.op`erating shaft, in this instancean angle being formed between vthese ageel l. It :be understood that thenumber of lifting inem.

bersy comprising a set 'may be varied, and when a larger number is'usedythe angle between the' axes of eccentricity will of course bfefsmaller.In Fig. 3, three eccentric disks 85, 86 and 87 are illustrated. Theseeccentric disks., are rotatably mounted in circular apertures formed inthe lifting members 71, and in the embodiment illustrated I have shownanti-friction bearing rings 88 interposed between the disks and thecircular apertures in the lifting members. The central disk 86 shown inFig. 5 is provided with a web portion 89 having apertures 90 yand 91symmetrically disposed with respectto the axis of rotation; Theseapertures 90 and 91 receiveoutward'ly projecting studs 92 formed 'on'theadjacent disks, the disk 86 being se-l curedtoY the shafty70 and formingthe drivinggmember for the set.

"From abovefd'escription it willbe seenk that the teeth on the liftingmembers`71 de.

orbital path and vsince the corresponding lifting members in each setare mounted in exactlyv the same way and lat the same angle ofeccentricity', it willbe seen that there arethree setsl of teeth alwaysinV engagement with a stalk of hemp. The hemp stalk will first b eengaged bythe resilientteeth 73 and will be lifted to a certain heightbyy these teeth, after which the resilient teeth will be withdrawn andasecond set of teeth will simultaneously lcome'into engagement with'thephemp. After the hemp has been lifted to a-higher level by thissecond s et of teeth, 'these teethfwill be withdrawn and a"l thiiidset'of'l teeth will come into engagement. operation is continueduntil anupper set rof 'teeth engages the -stalks andforces them over the upperedge of the'binder deck. This successive engagement of the teethstraightens' the hemp stalks and delivers them infgood condition to thepackers of the binding mechanism, the teeth being in engagement with thehemp from the time it is 'picked'up tothe time it `is engaged by thepackers.v l v Y In order to prevent the hemp from coming intoengagementl with the 'operating mechanism, and to strip the hemp fromthe teeth, I have provided a slotted shield 93 which extends across thefront of the machine and is provided with spaced slots so disposed astoform a passage for the teeth therethrough, as they are operated.Accordingly the disksi85,y 86 and 87 are so spacedapart'on and fixed tothe shaft 70 as to permit 'the .teeth mounted on these :disks to operatewithinivthe slotsY in the shield The flower end of this shield 93 Vissecured `atits rear as's'hown at 94,to the vense `vframe member 28,1vand" this fshield secured at'its upper end to a frame member 95jdisposed above there@ .tinsf'mehahism and sur effing the upp'efendbfthebindeufdecgf In order to protect the hemp from vthe Wind as it isbeing lifted, and also to hold the hemp on the teeth, I have provided acover plate 96 having a series of longitudinally extended inwardlyprojecting ribs 97 which are suitably spaced on the inner surface ofthis plate, and extend between the sets of teeth on the lifting members71. The ribs 97 serve a two-fold purpose; first, as braces to maintainthe shield plate 96 in a` rigid curve to correspond to the path of therakes, and second, since the rake teeth project beyond the inner edgesof the ribs, the latter close the gap and prevent the hemp from slidingfrom the teeth and falling to the ground. The plate 96 is supported atits lovver end by means of a U-shaped frame member 98 secured as shownat 99 to the transverse frame member 27. Frame member 98 is alsosupported and braced by a bar 98v interposed between frame member 28 andmember 98.` The plate 96 is secured at its upper end to a transverseframe member 100 which is formed integral with the member 95 abovedescribed, these two transverse members forming a part of a U-shapedsupporting bar. l

As shown in vFigs. 1 and 2, the slotted shield 98 and the cover plate 96are readily removable to enable the operator to have access to theinterior of the machine, should necessity require such access. l l

After the stalks have been elevatedby means of the lifting'members 71they are delivered to the binder deck 101 upon which is mounted theusual butt adjusting mechanism 102, binding mechanism 103, anddischarging mechanism 104. A binder shaft 105 is driven by means of asprocket and chain connection 106, 107, and 108 With the shaft 70. Thisconnection is clearly shown in Fig. 1 and a further detaileddescriptionl is believed to be unnecessary.

Means are also provided on this machine for discharging the bundles orsheaves therefrom, and in the embodiment illustrated, I have shown acontinuously operable conveyor 109. The conveyor is driven from one endby means of a shaft 110 which is secured to one of the rollers 111, andthis shaft is driven by means of intermeshing gears 112, one of thegears being secured to the shaft 110 and the other gear being secured toa power transmission shaft 118. The latter i i shaft is provided at itsopposite end with a bevel gear 114 which meshes withl a gear 115 securedto the shaft 58 above described.I

veyor Will also be actuated. If found de-.

sirable suitable clutch mechanism (not shown) could be interposedbetween the shaft 58 and the shaft 113l in order` ,to con- ,y

. lifting members.

trol the time of operation of the bundle discharging conveyor.rv

Having described the details of construction of my improved machine, Iwill now set forth briefly the operation thereof.

The first adjustment that must be made before putting the machine intoactual operation is the tilting adjustment of the frame and lthe frameshould be so positioned that the resilient teeth 73 will just clear theground when the machine is in operation. This adjustment as set forth inthe above specification, is made by means of the lever 41. thecounterbalancing spring 48 assisting in the tilting of the frame. /ifterthe frame has been placed in proper adjustment and the outer end oftheframe has been adjusted to the proper height 'by means of the Worm 54,toothed sector 52,' etc., the machine is ready for operation. When themeans of a tractorY or any suitable propulis rotated, and by means ofthe chain connection the sprocket 59 is also rotated. Direotconnectionmay, if desired, be made to the engine'of the tractor to drive the hempgathering and binding mechanism independently of the main driving Wheel.1V hen it is desired to commence the gathering of the hemp, the clutch62 Will be thrown intooperative position and the-shaft 58 Will berotated. This also sets in rotation the main actuating shaft fory the yAs the shaft 70 is operated, `the eccentrics 85, 86 and 87 Will berotated thereby actuating the lifting members 71 and lifting andelevating the hemp .stalks to the binder deck. The binding mechanismWill also be set in operation as soon as the clutch 62 is thrown intooperative position, and the sheaves will be bound in the usual manner,being discharged by this conveyor as Afast as they are dropped thereon.n

From the above description it will be seen that I have Vprovided asimple and efficient mechanism for liftingr the prostrate hemp stalksfrom the field, for elevating them to a desired height.` in thisinstance to a binder deck), for binding them into sheaves,

and for discharging the machine. n

While I have in the above specification described one'embodiment Whichmy invention may assume, it should be understood that the invention iscapable of modification, and that modifications may be made Withoutdeparting lfrom thespirit and scope. of the invention as expressed bythe following claims:

l. In a harvester, a' plurality of contin- Y sheaves from the lmachineis Ipropelled through the field by 7 uously operable lifting members`for .successively engaging prostrate i' stalks ,tov lift said stalksfrom the ground and elevate the same, said lifting members v'having aiplurality 0f fingers extending outwardly therefromV and arrangedarcuately to the said members at different levels, certain of saidlingers being resilient, said members being movable in the direct-ion oftravel of the harvester to engage the prostrate stalks.

2. In a harvester, a drive shaft a plurality of sets of continuouslyoperable lifting members arranged in an arc eccentric to andsubstantially surrounding said shaft for successively engaging with andfor elevating prostrate stalks from the ground, certain of the liftingmembers of each of the sets being disposed inthe same operativepositions at a predetermined -time during an operation.

3. In a harvester, a plurality of continuously operable, positivelyactuated lifting members -extending from the front toward the rear ofsaid harvester for successively engaging with and elevating stalks fromthe field, the front ends of said members being movable to a position inclose proximity to the surface of the ground, a cover plate positionedabove said members and portions of said members closing the spacebetween said members and said cover, and means for stripping the stalksfrom the rear ends of said members.

4. In a harvester, a. plurality of continuously operable stalk liftingand elevating members arcuate in outline throughout their length andcarrying teeth, and means including a slotted shield plate through whichthe teeth of said members extend for stripping the stalks therefrom.

5. In a harvester, a plurality of continuously operable stalk liftingand elevating members, said members being arcuate in form and carryingteeth, and means inc-luding a slotted shield plate secured to theharvester frame and extending around said arcuate members throughouttheir length for stripping the stalks from said members.

6. In a harvester, a. frame, a plurality of continuously operablelifting members for successively engaging with and elevating stalks fromthe field, and a cover plate extending over said lifting members andhaving a series of inwardly projecting ribs extending toward saidmembers.

7. In a harvester, a frame, a plurality of continuously operable liftingmembers for successively engaging with an elevating the stalks from thefield, means for stripping t-he stalks from said members, and a coverplate extending over said stripping means and said members and having aseries of inwardly extending ribs positioned above said lifting members.

8. In Aa harvester, a plurality of continuously operable lifting membershaving meansy for Y successively A engaging and ele vati'ngprostratestalks from 'the ground, and' means including angularlydisposed eccentrics for operating said lifting members, in a l'directionforvva ,dly and upwardly as they eng-age and lift said stalks.V f l 9.In a harvester,'a frame, a plurality of continuously operable liftingmembers havingk means for successively engaging and elevating stalksfrom the field, said lifting members being pivotally connected with theframe of the machine substantially at their rear ends, and eccentricdisks operatively connected With said members for actuating the same.'

10. In a harvester, a frame, a plurality of continuously operablelifting members having means for successively engaging With andelevating stalks from the field, link connection pivotally connectingthe upper ends of said members with said frame, and

eccentric means operatively connected with said members intermediate theends thereof for operating the lifting members.

l1. In a harvester, a frame, a plurality of sets of continuouslyoperable lifting members carried thereby and having means for engagingand elevating stalks from the field, a driving shaft for operating saidylifting members and eccentric disks carried by said shaft andoperatively connected to said members, the axes of eccentricity of saiddisks being uniformly disposed about the longitudinal axis of saidshaft, said driving shaft operating to drive said disks and liftingmembers in a direction forwardly and upwardly as said members engage andlift.y i

the stalks.

12. In a harvester, a frame, a drive wheel supporting said frame,bindingmechanisml disposed substantially over said drive Wheel, andreciprocating means Idisposed directly in front of said drive Wheel andoperatively connected -thereto for gathering pros-trate stalks andlconveying said stalks upwardly and rearwardly to said binding mechanism.

13. In a harvester, a frame, a drive Wheel supporting said frame,binding mechanism disposed substantially over said drive wheel, meansdisposed in front of said drive Wheel and operatively connected theretofor gathering prostrate stalks and conveying said stalks to said bindingmechanism, and means disposed in the rear of said Wheel for dischargingthe bound sheaves out of the path ofmovement of said harvester.

14. In a harvester, a frame, a reciprocating means for gatheringprostrate stalks, comprising a plurality of stalk-engaging members, eachof said members being pivotally supported on a link at one end andoperatively driven from a point intermediate its ends for conveying thestalks over said members.

15. In a harvester, a. frame, a reciprocating means for gatheringprostrate stalks, 16. In a harvester, a frame, and reciprocomprising aplurality of stalk-engaging eating stalk-engaging members disposed 'atmembers, eac-l1 of said members being pivthe front of said harvester forlifting stalks 10 otall7 supported on a link at its rear ends, from thefield.

5 and operatively driven from a point inter- Tn testimony whereof Iah'ix my signature.

mediate its end for conveying the stalks over the tops of said members.LUI). HOLLAND-LETZ.

